Dirigible landing device



Feb. 3, 1931. w 155 1,791,394

DIRIGIBLE LANDING DEVICE Filed March 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Feb. 3, 1931; w. WIESE 1,191,394

DIRIGIBLE LANDING DEVICE Filed March 28. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. William iii'ese ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 VJILLIAM WIESE, F CLEVELAND, OHIO DIRIGIBLE LANDING DEVICE Application filed March 28, 1930. Serial No. 439,779.

This invention relates to a dirigible landing device and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinatter set forth, a device or" such character by means of which the landing of a dirigible may be efl ected with a minimum number of men.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character aforesaid which includes a tilt-able motor equipped with a propeller, by means oi which a force may be applied to a dirigible in any direction desired in order to maneuver the same into position to be secured to a mooring mast or the like.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists oi the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more particularly described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the description and drawings are to be taken as illustrative and that the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

in the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevation of a dirigible equipped with a landing device in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlargd. l'ragi ientary end elevation thereof showi tiltable motor or the landing device p .s t a right angle to the position shmvn in n igure 1. 5 Figure 3 is an enlarged side 'lcvation of the landing device.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4% of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates the body of a dirigible which is equipped in the usual manner with a cabin 2., and a propeller 8 which is operated by means of a motor 1.

Depending from the cabin 2 are a pair of spaced supports 5. each of which is provided with a curved brace 6, the end of each brace 6 being fixedly secured to the cabin 2 and to a support 5 in spaced relation to the lower end of the latter.

Journaled in the support 5 are the outer ends of a pair of longitudinally aligned shafts and 8, the inner ends of which are fixedly secured to the housing of an auxiliary motor shown conventionally at 9, and

equipped with a propeller 10. Fixedly.

mounted on the shaft 8, adjacent the support 5 in which it is journaled, is adisk 11 which is provided in its periphery with a plurality of spaced recesses 12. Carried by the support in which the shaft 8 is journaled, and projecting over the disk 11, are a pair of spaced brackets 13 which slidably support a spring actuated plunger 14, the lower end or which is adapted to project into the recesses 12 when the latter are brought thereunder. Connected with the upper end of the plunger 1% is a bell crank 15 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 16 disposed above the brackets 13. Extending from the bell crank 15 and into the cabin 2 is an actuating rod 17 for lifting the plunger 14- when desired.

Fixedly mounted on the shaft 7, adjacent the support 5 in which the same is j ournaled, is a worm gear 18 which is in mesh with a worm 19 formed on a worm shaft 20. The worm shaf 20 is journaled in a bearing 21 fixedly secured to the support 5 in which the shaft 7 is journaled, and extends into the cabin 2 with the upper end thereof in proximity to the upper end of the actuating rod 17. Above the motor 9, the supports 5 are connected together and mutually braced by means of atie rod 29.

Leading from the cabin 2 to the motor 9 is an oi line 22 which is provided with a swivel joint 23 in spaced relation to the motor 9, and which is supported above the swivel oint 23 by means of a brace 2st which projects from the support 5 in which the shaft 7 is journaled. Also extending from the cabin 2 to the motor 9 is a gasoline line 25 which is provided with a swivel joint 26 in spaced relation to the motor 9, and which is supported above the swivel joint 26 by means of a brace 27 projecting from the support 5 in which the shaft 7 is jourualed.

By operating the actuating rod 17 to release the plunger 1% from the recesses 12 in the disk 11, and by rotating the worm ill shaft 20 by means of a handle member 28 at the upper end thereof, the shafts 7 and 8 may be rotated relative to the supports 5 in order to tilt the motor 9 in any direction desired. Upon releasing the actuating rod 17, the plunger 14 is forced by its controlling spring into engagement with one of the recesses 12 whereby any further rotation of the shafts 7 and 8 to tilt the motor 9 is pre vented. WVith the motor 9 positioned in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, the rotation of the propeller 10 exerts a force on the dirigible body 1 in directly downward di rection in order to lower the dirigible toward the ground. \Vith the motor 9 tilted at a right angle to the position shown in Figure 1, the rotation of the propeller 10 exerts a force on the dirigible in a horizontal direction.

It is thoughtthat the many advantages of a landing device in accorcance with this invention will be readily apparent, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the siZe, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, so long as such changes fall. within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A dirigible landing device comprising, a pair of supports adapted to be connected with the cabin of a dirigible, a pair of longitudinally aligned shafts having their outer ends journaled in said supports, a propeller equipped auxiliary motor fixedly mounted on the inner ends of said shafts, means operatively connected with one of said shafts for rotating the same to tilt the motor to selective positions, means operatively connected with the other of said shafts for locking the same against rotative movement to maintain the motor in a selected position, and a fuel line having one end discharging into the motor and. having its other end adapted to extend into the cabin, said fuel line being provided with a swivel joint in spaced relation to said motor.

2. A dirigible landing device comprising, a pair of supports adapted to be connected with the cabin of a dirigible, a pair of 1ongitudinally aligned shafts having their out er ends jour a ded in said supports, a propeller equipped auxiliary motor fixedly secured to the inner ends of said shafts, means operatively connected with one of said shafts for rotating the same to tilt the motor to se leetive positions, a disk fixedly mounted on the other of said shafts and formed in its periphery with a plurality of spaced recesses, a slidable, spring actuated plunger for selective engagement with said recesses, a bell crank having one end pivotally connected to said plunger, and an actuating rod pivotally connected to the other end of said bell crank.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

-WILLIAM \VIESE. 

